Sifter



Nov. 23, 1943.

H. B. RICE. 2,335,084

SIFIER Filed April 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HARRY B.R|0E

*Jum r5 (30m,

Nov. 23, 1943.

H. B. RICE 2,335,084

SIFTER FiledApril 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W i mm HARRY B; RlGE Nov. 23, 1943. H. B. RICE 2,335,084

SIFI'ER Filed April 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 HARD SE'% T OR. BY 141a rs Owe.

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIFTER Harry B. Rice, Houston, Tex., assignor to Mission Rubber Company, Houston, Tex.

Application April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,141

Claims. (Cl. 209408) The'invention relates to a sifter or sieve assembly of the type used insifting or bolting flour. In the sifting or bolting of flour a plurality of sifter frames are superposed one above the other ina stackso that the entire stack can be vibrated to efiect the bolting of the flour; Each of these sifter frames carries a sheet of bolting cloth which has been tacked on the frame heretofore; In many instances the cloth becomes worn or ripped and must be replaced and the replacing of this cloth has consumed considerable time and involved delay and expense. The sifter frame carries a plurality of resilient liners for the sifter areas of the type disclosed in my prior patent, No. 2,001,631; for a Sieve liner, granted May 14, 1935, which have also been tacked in the frame heretofore. Occasionally these resilient liners required replacement and it has been found necessary to remove the bolting cloth in order to replace the liner. The present invention contemplates a type of sifter frame wherein the bolting cloth and the liner are carried by an insert skeleton which is removably attached to the sifter frame. The skeletons for all of the frames are of the same size and shape so that they are not only removable from the frame but are interchangeable with the various frames.

With a construction as above indicated the insert skeleton may be quickly removed and a new or repaired or rebuilt insert placed in the frame almost instantly. The operator can then repair or rebuild the inserts as desired or the inserts are arranged so that both the liner and the bolting cloth are clipped or clamped removably on 2 the insert. Thus, if desired, the replacement or repairs may be made Very expeditiously and the insert returned to the liner frame very quickly if it is desired that the same insert be returned to the same frame.

Broadly the invention contemplates an insert for sifter frames so that the liners may be removed and repaired quickly without disturbing the bolting cloth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quickly removable connection for the bolting cloth for sifter frames.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quickly removable connection for the liner of sifter frames.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an insert for sifter frames which can be quickly removed and which is interchangeable with different frames.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip for attaching insert skeletons to strainer frames.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip for attaching liners to sifter frames.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rod or grooved clamping construction for the bolting cloth for. sifters. I

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view looking down on the sifter frame carrying the insert and removable liners and bolting cloth.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking at the end of the frame and illustrating the manner of connecting the insert.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the sectional construction of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view looking down on the insert skeleton and illustrating the arrangement of the grooves for attaching the bolting cloth and the arrangement of the liners.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the sifter areas or sections and the clips for affixing the liner from beneath.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections taken on lines 6- 6 and !1 respectively of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of one of the liners in its normal circular configuration.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Figs 10, 11 and 12 are sections taken on the corresponding lines in Fig. 1. r

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic arrangement of a stack of sifter frames illustrating the manner of their assembly.

In the sifting of flour and, other materials it is the common practice to discharge the ground material from a chute or spout 2 best seen in Fig. 13. This material falls by gravity on the top frame 3 of a stack of frames 4. These frames are held together by a supporting tructure 5 which is arranged to be vibrated by the eccentrics 5 or in any other manner. The material being sifted will travel across the frames to the next succeeding lower frame and alternate its path across the structure 5, the sifted material being discharged from the bottom and the coarser material being overflowing from the various frames. 7 The present invention relates to the structure and arrangement of the individual frames such as 3. Such a frame is shown in plan view in Fig. 1 and is made up of side pieces It which are arranged in substantially a rectangle. Spaced from the side pieces R9 are the support strips I l on opposite sides so as to create an area !2 on the left hand side as seen in Fig. 3 which will be an overflow area. The area 93 on the right hand side will be the discharge area for the material which is sifted.

The strips I I carry a sheet metal plate M which is arranged to receive the material bolted or passed thru the sifter and discharge it over the edge into the area IS. The tops of the strips ll carry a coarse wire mesh 6 which is seen in plan view in Fig. 1. The packing or sealing strip I8 is mounted on top of the strips A center brace l9 may be provided to support the plate It.

It will be noted that the wire mesh I6 is at an elevation below the top of the frame and thatthe insert 2| has been slipped into the frame up of the side arms 23 which are connected by the cross pieces 24 at the back, 25 in the middle, and at 26 at the front. These cross pieces and side arms form a plurality of sifter areas or sections 21, four of which are provided in the insert of Fig. 4.

Fig. 1 shows the insert in position in the frame.

Fig. 10 shows the insert 2| in position with the ends 30 of the side arms 23 engaging the dowel pins 3| which project from the frame. In this manner the inner or back end of the insert 2| is held firmly in engagement with the frame. At the front end the cross bar 26 has an opening 32 therein which is formed to receive a U-shaped clip 33. The lower leg of this clip enters an opening 34 in the front of the frame so that the front end of the insert is firmly positioned upon the packing |8 in such a manner that it will not jar loose.

'Each of the sifter sections 2'! is arranged to receive a liner or bumper 35. This bumper is of the general type disclosed in my prior Patent 2,001,631, granted May 14, 1935, and embodies an integral strip or ring of rubber as seen in Fig. 8. At spaced intervals along this strip the corner portions 36 are formed so that they will fit into the corners of the sifter sections 21 as seen in Fig. 4. The present liner 35, however, has a groove 31 across the bottom as seen in Fig. 8 and upwardly on'the inside surface 39. This groove is arranged to receive a clip M! as best seen in Fig. 5, which clip is the same as the clip 33 used in Fig. 10. The legs of this clip pass into the groove 31, the cross portion of th clip fits into base of the liner and one leg fits into the opening 4| in the skeleton 22. As seen in Fig. 5 there are four of these clips 4!] so that the liner is compelled to assume the position of Fig. 5,

where it is drawn snugly into position with the sides of the sifter section 21. These clips 43 are moved in from the bottom so that only the legs are seen as in Fig. 4.

An enlarged section of the structure J'ust described is best seen in Fig. 6.

Each of the sifter sections 2? is arranged to receive one of the cleaners for sifting means of the type shown in my prior patent, 1,965,157, granted 'July 13, 1934, which serves to vibrate in the sifter area and rides on the wire mesh it.

In order to sift or bolt the flour or other material passing thru the device a cloth of textile or metal material will be drawn across the top of the insert or skeleton of Fig. 4. This cloth is shown as having been applied to the insert and frame of Fig. l but is broken away over a major portion of the view. The cloth is shown as spam ping the top of the side braces 23, 24, 25 and 26 so as to cover all four of the sifter sections 21.

As pointed out hereinbefore, it is desirable to have the bolting cloth readily removable and to this end the side arms 23 and the cross pieces 24 and 26 are each provided with a longitudinal groove 43 which is illustrated in Fig. 11 in the enlarged view of the side arm 23. The cloth is indicated generally at 44 and will be laid over the sifter and across the top of the brace or arms. A strip of filler or packing material 45 may then be laid over the top of the cross bar or side arm and then a rod 47 will b forced downwardly into the groove carrying with it the bolting cloth 44 and the filler 45. This fabric material serves to wedge the rod 41 in place and downward movement of the rod draws the bolting cloth taut across the top of the insert. When the rods have been placed in all four of the grooves as seen in Fig. 1, then the bolting cloth 44 will be drawn closely across the frame but will still be readily removable by lifting out the various rods. A set screw 18 may serve as a lock.

Fig. 12 shows the packing strip 50 upon which the bolting cloth M rests where it extends across the central bars 25.

In operation inserts 2| may be quickly removed from the frames in the stack and replaced with an identical insert 50 that service of the stack will be interrupted momentarily. The insert which is removed can then be quickly repaired. If it is the liner which is to be renewed the old. liner may be removed from the bottom of the insert as seen in Fig. 5, without interfering with the bolting cloth so that the renewal requires but a few moments. On the other hand if the bolting cloth need be removed or repaired, it can be quickly released by removal of the rods 41,

Broadly the invention contemplates a removable insert for sifter frames or sieves wherein the replaceable parts of the frame or sieve are carried by the insert and where inserts are interchangeable with each other so as to avoid interference with the operation of the device or tool in replacement or repair of the parts.

' What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a sifter insert having rectangular sifter sections of a liner for each section, said liner being of resilient material and normally substantially circular, thickened areas on said liner whose outer surfaces form corners when the liner is placed, and. U-shaped clips to engage in openings in the insert and over the liner to conform it to the rectangular sections.

2. A sieve frame for sifters including a body, a wire mesh thereon, an insert skeleton to carry the bolting cloth, and a plurality of U-shaped clips to be inserted in paired openings in said frame and insert to removably retain said insert above said mesh.

3. A sieve frame for sifters including a body, a wire mesh thereon, an insert skeleton to carry the bolting cloth, and a plurality of U-shaped clips to be inserted in paired openings in said 7 frame and insert to removably retain said insert above said mesh, including clips'insertable partly in said frame and partly in said insert.

4. In a sifter assembly wherein a plurality of sifter frames are superposed, a wire mesh permanently aiiixed in each frame to support cleaner elements, an insert for each frame, means to re- 

